Tube-forming machine



July 21, 1942. R. E. MOULE 2,290,199

TUBE-FORMING MACHINE Filed March 28, 1938 I 2 E E I g K ffi lallfllllllll III] ll ll IN VENTOR. 0121a,

A TTORNE Y.

Patented July 21, 1942 TUBE-FORMING MACHINE 7 Rex E. Moule, Detroit,Mich. Application March 28, 1938, Serial No. 198,614

(Cl. 1s 19) 2 Claims.

This application relates to machines for making gelatin tubing fromwhich fluid-filled gelatin capsules may be made.

For an understanding of the machines lierein disclosed reference shouldbe had, to the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing: 7

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a multiple mandreltwo strip construction;

Fig. 2 is an elevation view of Fig. 1 with parts omitted;

Fig. 3 is a section on line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 shows a mandrel in bottom plan view.

The drawing shows an apparatus for transforming two substantially flatstrips I Id of gelatinous material into a tube or simultaneously into aplurality of tubes. In this construction, there are a plurality ofhollow mandrels H5 located between spaced pairs of disks H2. These-disks are mounted upon and fastened to axles or shafts HI so thattheyma'y be rotated in the process of forming the tubes. Each mandrel,about which a tube is made, is positioned between two pairs of disksspaced from each other a distance substantially equal to the diameter ofthe mandrel plus the thickness of the strips. The strips are fed intothe apparatus, one on each side, and into contact with the disks H2which are rotated towards each other, the peripheries ofthe disks beingin substantially abutting relation.

The movement of the disks moves the strips into contact with themandrels and the disks engage the two strips in between the mandrels soas to press them together to unite the strips into one or more tubesdepending upon the number of mandrels used.

It will thus be seen that the apparatus is so constructed and arrangedthat whentwo substantially flat strips of gelatinous material of a widthat least equal to the distance between the pairs of disks are fed intothe bights between the disks of each pair and on opposite sides of themandrel or mandrels, the strips are contacted and moved around themandrel or mandrels and pressed together by the peripheries of the disksto unite the strips into -the form of a tube or a plurality of tubes.When a plurality of tubes are made, the pairs of disks are separatedfrom each other a distance substantially equal to the diameter of themandrel plus twice the thickness of the strips. The mandrels are hollowso that medicament may be passed through them and into the tubes whilethe tubes are being made.

tubes, when made, are used for the purpose of These making capsulesfilled with medicament, as set out for example in my application filedJuly 25,

1939, Serial No. 286,315, being a continuation of application No.99,886, filed September 8, 1936. K

The hollow mandrels may have their lower ends Il5a wedge shaped toprovide annular shoulders I H5 or they may be of some other form such,for example, as shown in my prior application above being spaced fromeach other a distance substantially equal to the diameter of the mandrelplus twice the thickness of the strips, the peripheries of the disks ofeach pair being in substantially abutting relation, said disks andmandrel being so constructed and arranged that when two substantiallyflat strips of said mandrel of a width at least equal to the distancebetween the pairs of disks are fedlinto the bights between the disks, of

each pair and on opposite sides ofthe mandrel, the strips are contactedand moved around the mandrel and pressed together by the peripheriesonly of the disks to unite the strips into the form of a tube. I

2. An apparatus for transforming substantially flat strips of gelatinousmaterial with a plurality of tubes comprising a plurality of hollowmandrels a plurality of spaced pairs of rotatable disks, each mandrelbeing positioned between two of said pairs of disks, and said pair ofdisks being spaced from each other a distance substantially equal to thediameter of the mandrel plus twice the thickness of the strips, theperipheries of the disks of each pair being in substantially abuttingrelation whereby when two substantially flat strips of said material ofa Width at least equal to the distance between the pairs of most widelyspaced apart disks are fed into the b'ights between the disks, of eachpair and on opposite sides of the mandrels, the strips are contacted andmoved arounda plurality of the mandrels and pressed together by, theperipheries only of the disks to unite the strips into the form of aplurality of tubes.

REX E. MOULE.

